irs program accomplishments · form 990 part iii · fy2024
What they reported doing
- #1 primary $136KEDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE TOURS, EXHIBIT MEDIA AND PUBLICATIONS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC REGARDING THE HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF LOCAL LIFE OVER MORE THAN 250 YEARS. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES TOURS AND DEMONSTRATIONS TO SCHOOL GROUPS, EDUCATORS AND SCHOLARS. SCHOOL GROUPS FROM WITHIN THE CITY OF ALBANY ARE PROVIDED THESE PROGRAMS WITHOUT CHARGE. OTHER SCHOOL GROUPS ARE PROVIDED TOURS AT A REDUCED COST. A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS ARE TRAINED TO PROVIDE TOURS OF THE HISTORIC PROPERTY AND PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING THE COLLECTION ITEMS ON EXHIBITION. FOR 2024, APPROXIMATELY 5,000 PEOPLE WERE SERVED THROUGH THE VARIOUS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS (BOTH ON-SITE AND VIRTUAL)OFFERED BY CHERRY HILL.
- #2 $29KPROPERTY CARE IS MAINTAINING THE ORIGINAL BUILDING AND GROUNDS THAT ARE THE ORIGINAL CHERRY HILL ESTATE. THE PROPERTY IS ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES AND DATES BACK TO THE 18TH CENTURY. THE HISTORIC HOME IS MAINTAINED IN PERIOD CONDITION WITH ONGOING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR RESTORATION PROJECTS. BEGINNING IN 2009, THE ORGANIZATION, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF FEDERAL AND STATE FUNDING, HAS BEGUN A MAJOR HISTORICAL RENOVATION OF THE PROPERTY THAT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS. THESE PROJECTS REMAIN ONGOING.
named programs · 6 · from sources
What they call their work
Fight for Freedom: A Revolutionary Tour of Cherry Hill
Public tour examining how revolutionary-era ideas about freedom and equality evolved across American history, using stories and collections from the Revolution.
Hudson River Trading Game
Interactive program for grades 4-5 using a 34-foot game board to simulate 18th-century trade on the Hudson River, integrating history, economics, science, and math.
Mining the Untold Stories: Time Capsules Through History
School program for grades 4-8 that visits multiple historic sites in Albany to explore underrepresented voices in local history, including those affected by slavery, immigration, and industrialization.
The 1827 Murder at Cherry Hill
Specialty tour exploring the true crime of 1827, which reveals social tensions around class, gender, slavery, and justice in 19th-century New York.
The New Cherry Hill Case
Hands-on program for grades 4-5 where students investigate 19th-century household roles and relationships through primary sources and a document-based Reader’s Theatre.
The World of James Knapp
Multi-site exhibition exploring the life of William James Knapp, a Black resident of 19th-century Albany, through artifacts and commissioned artworks.
activities · 6 groups
What they do
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Historic Site Public Programming 3 activities
- Deliver historical education programs to scholars and educatorsProvides educational tours, exhibit media, and publications about local life over more than 250 years to scholars, educators, and the general public; served approximately 5,000 people in 2024 through on-site and virtual programs, with comparable numbers in prior years.
- Develop and present historical exhibitions and themed toursCo-develops and presents exhibitions such as "The World of James Knapp" and offers specialty tours including "Fight for Freedom" and "The 1827 Murder at Cherry Hill," which explore Revolutionary-era history, Black life in 19th-century Albany, and social issues such as slavery, class, and gender roles through artifacts, stories, and immersive interpretation.
- Host public events and community programsHosts the annual Albany History Fair, evening author events, book signings, and garden-based StoryWalks that engage the public with regional history, agriculture, and literature. Events include access to gardens, historic house tours, and themed programming such as the 2026 focus on 18th-century Albany and the Revolutionary War.
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Museum-Based Educational Outreach 2 activities
- Host school and community group tours and outreach programsProvides on-site and outreach-based tours and educational programs for school and community groups, available in person or virtually, with funding support and reduced rates for schools. These programs include multi-site experiences co-offered with Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site and full-day explorations of underrepresented people in 19th-century Albany.
- Offer virtual and digital access to historical contentProvides a virtual tour experience and a free online platform connecting educators across New York State with primary source materials, learning activities, and 3D museum tours to support student discovery and critical thinking about local history, including slavery and emancipation in New York.
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Guided Historic Site Tours 2 activities
- Provide guided public tours of the historic siteOffers guided tours on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 pm to 4 pm, with the last tour starting at 3 pm, enabling visitors to experience the domestic life of an Albany family across three centuries through stories, artifacts, and immersive settings. Hands-on objects and scavenger hunts are provided during tours to engage younger visitors.
- Train teen and volunteer tour guidesOperates a teen guide program and trains volunteers, including high school students, to serve as historical tour guides and provide information about the historic property and exhibited collections.
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Educational Field Trips and Experiential Outings 1 activity
- Deliver educational programs for students in grades 4–12Provides tailored historical education programs for students in grades 4–12 through onsite and in-school experiences using primary sources, artifacts, and immersive activities such as Reader’s Theatre and a 34-foot game board focused on 18th-century Hudson River trade. Programs are available on-site, in schools, and virtually, with subsidized or free options for Albany City School District and other groups.
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Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 1 activity
- Maintain and restore the historic Cherry Hill estateMaintains the original 18th-century Cherry Hill estate building and grounds, including ongoing interior and exterior restoration projects to preserve its historical condition. A major historical renovation since 2009 has been supported by federal and state funding.
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Free Public Access Nature Sites 1 activity
- Provide free public access to grounds and gardensOffers free public access to the historic grounds and gardens during tour hours, with picnic tables available for visitor enjoyment and seasonal activities such as the StoryWalk enhancing engagement.
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financials · form 990 · fy2024
revenue
Total revenue$282K
Contributions & grants$247K88%
Program service revenue$22K8%
Investment income$2K1%
Other revenue$11K
expenses
Total expenses$315K
Program expenses76%
Admin / overhead23%
Fundraising1%
Salaries & benefits$161K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$275K
Cash$62K
Investments$0
Liabilities$93K
Net assets$182K
Liquid reserves2.4 mo
4 years on record · 2020–2024 · YoY revenue -2.1%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2024
Who runs it
paid leadership · 1
| Name | Title | Hours/wk | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| DEBORAH EMMONS-ANDARAWIS | EXEC DIRECTOR | 40 | $51K |
board members · 9
- ERIN LEARY — SECRETARY/TRUSTEE
- FREDERICK SCHROCK — TRUSTEE
- JAMES CAMPBELL — PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE
- KRYSTA DENNIS — TRUSTEE
- LYNNE LEKAKIS — TRUSTEE
- MAEVE MCENENY-JOHNSON — TRUSTEE
- MARYITA DOBIEL — TREASURER/TRUSTEE
- RICHARD HENDRICK — TRUSTEE
- ROBERT ENGLERT — VICE PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE
relationships · 28
Who they work with
- A Still Small Voice 4U Inc. Partner — Community partner supporting arts, music, literature, culture, and community engagement.
- AMA & MANY members Network — Provides free admission to members of AMA and MANY, indicating participation in a museum membership network.
- Albany Barn Partner — Collaborated on the multi-site exhibition "The World of James Knapp."
- American Alliance of Museums Network — National membership organization championing museum excellence and equity.
- American Association for State and Local History Network — National professional association supporting state and local history institutions.
- Blue Star Families Partner — Offers free admission to members of Blue Star Families as part of a community access program.
- Capital District Library Council Network — Membership organization providing access to digital resources, continuing education, and advocacy for cultural institutions in upstate New York.
- City of Albany Partner — Supports youth employment programs and shares heritage initiatives in partnership with Historic Cherry Hill.
- Consider the Source Online: Teaching with Historical Records Partner — Provides access to primary source materials for educators across New York State, partnering with Historic Cherry Hill to support historical education.
- Discover Albany Partner — Tourism and visitor services organization collaborating on community outreach and events.
- Emily Rankin Government — Last descendant of the original owner who bequeathed the house to the people of Albany for use as a museum.
- Federal government Government — Provided funding support for major historical renovation of the Cherry Hill estate beginning in 2009.
- J. Stephen Casscles Partner — Collaborates with author, grape grower, and winemaker for educational wine tasting and book signing event
- Museum Association of New York Network — State-level association supporting museums through training, advocacy, and capacity building.
- National Endowment for the Humanities Funder — Funded research and planning for the "Mining the Untold Stories" program through the American Rescue Plan.
- National Endowment for the Humanities Funder — Provided a major grant supporting the research, digitization, and interpretation of the collection and creation of educational materials.
- New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation Government — State agency overseeing historic sites including partnership with Historic Cherry Hill on educational programming.
- Port of Albany Partner — Sponsors the Hudson River Trading Game & Navigating the Seas school program in collaboration with Historic Cherry Hill.
- Rankin family Partner — Last two generations responsible for maintaining and preserving the site
- Schuyler Mansion Partner — Co-presents the annual Albany History Fair with Historic Cherry Hill.
- Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site Partner — Partners with Historic Cherry Hill to co-offer the school program Mining the Untold Stories.
- Siena College Partner — Collaborates on an interdisciplinary project using theater, dramaturgy, visual arts, and virtual reality to interpret American history through Historic Cherry Hill.
- Siena College Partner — Provided use of its Digital Scholarship Center to scan books and manuscripts and contributed through its McCormick Center internship program.
- State government Government — Provided funding support for major historical renovation of the Cherry Hill estate beginning in 2009.
- Underground Railroad Education Center Partner — Co-presented the multi-site exhibition "The World of James Knapp" at their venue on Livingston Avenue.
- Underground Railroad Education Center Partner — Co-presents the annual Albany History Fair with Historic Cherry Hill.
- Underground Railroad Education Center Partner — Community and heritage partner focused on preserving Underground Railroad history and promoting social justice education.
- Van Rensselaer family Partner — Historic site associated with the Van Rensselaer family, whose history and property form the basis of public interpretation and programming.
strategies · 5
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Collaborative and Inclusive Interpretationmethodology: inclusive_history_educationBy co-developing thematically linked public programs with other heritage sites and focusing on underrepresented communities, the organization broadens historical understanding because inclusive, collaborative narratives increase relevance and engagement across diverse audiences.
- Critical Historical Inquiry Bridging Past and Presentmethodology: historical_inquiry_and_contemporary_reflectionBy connecting historical narratives—particularly from the Revolutionary era—to contemporary social questions through guided inquiry, the organization prompts critical reflection on the evolution of freedom and equality, because linking past and present deepens civic engagement and historical understanding.
- Household-Centered Historical Interpretationmethodology: intimate_historical_encounterBy using the history of a single Albany household as a lens, visitors gain intimate and relatable encounters with the past, which fosters personal reflection on their own lives and place in history because familiarity enables emotional and cognitive resonance.
- Inquiry-Based and Experiential Learning Modelmethodology: inquiry_based_learningBy combining hands-on exploration of primary sources, role-playing, and interdisciplinary methods like Reader’s Theatre and game-based simulations, students engage in active historical inquiry because experiential and participatory formats deepen critical thinking and retention.
- Object-Based Immersive Interpretationmethodology: object_based_interpretationBy preserving and interpreting the historic site with original family contents intact, visitors experience immersive, object-based learning across three centuries of continuous occupation because material authenticity deepens connection to historical continuity and lived experience.